Macklemore and Lewis first Seattle artists to top list since 1992

Updated 11:39 pm, Thursday, January 24, 2013

"Thrift Shop" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis jumped to the No. 1 position this week, beating Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake and Taylor Swift. Earlier this month, the single went platinum with more than a million copies sold.

"Thrift Shop" topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart puts Macklemore and Lewis in a rare class. The last Seattle artist to reach that spot was Sir Mix-a-Lot with "Baby Got Back" in 1992. Macklemore has previously said he wanted Mix-a-Lot to be in the video for "Thrift Shop," but he didn't hear back.

The only other Seattle artists to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 list are Heart ("Alone" in 1987 and "These Dreams" in 1986), Paul Revere and the Raiders ("Indian Reservation," 1971) and Olympia-based group The Fleetwoods, who recorded in Seattle ("Come Softly To Me" and "Mr. Blue," 1959).

Some of Seattle's best known bands – Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, The Presidents of the United States of America – never had a single reach the top spot. Even Jimi Hendrix didn't, though he had a style not geared toward producing pop radio hits.

Photo: JOE DYER

Image 1of/8

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 8

“Thrift Shop,” the rap single from Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart on Jan. 23, 2013. They are the first Seattle artists to top the list since Sir-Mix-a-Lot had “Baby Got Back” in 1992.

Macklemore jumps during his performance in the Mainstage in Key Arena at Bumbershoot 2011. Macklemore, who became the first Seattle artist since Sir Mix-a-Lot to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart, has performed at Bumbershoot in 2011, 2009, and 2008.

Ryan Lewis, shown here in 2010, and Macklemore have the nation's top single with "Thrift Shop." The song also is the top single on iTunes and the most successful track off "The Heist," the first studio album from the duo that debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes charts when it was released last October.

Ryan Lewis, shown here in 2010, and Macklemore have the nation's top single with "Thrift Shop." The song also is the top single on iTunes and the most successful track off "The Heist," the first studio album

Seattle rapper Macklemore responds to the crowd at CenturyLink Field prior to an NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 23, 2012. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' album, "The Heist," debuted as the top album on iTubes when it was released in October.

Seattle rapper Macklemore responds to the crowd at CenturyLink Field prior to an NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 23, 2012. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' album,

Seattle musician Macklemore performs a tribute to Dave Niehaus during Opening Day ceremonies at Safeco Field in Seattle Friday April 8, 2011.

Seattle musician Macklemore performs a tribute to Dave Niehaus during Opening Day ceremonies at Safeco Field in Seattle Friday April 8, 2011.

Photo: Stephen Brashear

Image 6 of 8

Macklemore, who is also known as Ben Haggerty, on the main stage at the Capitol Hill Block Party in Seattle.

Macklemore, who is also known as Ben Haggerty, on the main stage at the Capitol Hill Block Party in Seattle.

Photo: Elliot Suhr, Seattlepi.com

Image 7 of 8

Macklemore performs on the Fisher Green stage on the final day of Bumbershoot in Seattle, summer 2009.

Macklemore performs on the Fisher Green stage on the final day of Bumbershoot in Seattle, summer 2009.

Photo: Daniel Berman, Seattlepi.com

Image 8 of 8

Macklemore's "Thrift Shop" most popular song in nation

1 / 8

Back to Gallery

The Billboard list, which is based on sales and radio play, began in Aug. 1958.

"Thrift Shop" is also the top single on iTunes and is the most successful track off "The Heist," the first studio album from Macklemore and Lewis that debuted at No. 1 on iTunes when it was released last October.

The album has reached the second spot on the Billboard 200 chart, which tracks top-selling albums across all genres. And he's done it all without a record contract.

Macklemore, also known as Ben Haggerty, is a Seattle native who attended Garfield and Nathan Hale high schools. The 29-year-old has become popular with fans through annual appreciation parties, his openness about his battles with drug-addiction and alcoholism, and his song "Same Love" with Lewis and vocalist Mary Lambert, which supports same-sex couples.

On Mariners opening Day in 2011, Macklemore and Lewis performed "My Oh My" at Safeco Field – their tribute to beloved Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus that went viral shortly after his death that November.

Billboard, citing Nielsen SoundScan ratings, reported that "Thrift Shop" topped the Digital Songs chart for a second frame with 341,000 downloads sold – and increase of 22 percent. It also remained at No. 1 on Billboard's Streaming Songs chart with 1.68 million streams, led On-Demand tracks for a third week, tops the R&B/Hip Hop chart for a second week, and continues to increase in radio airplay, according to Billboard.

The monumental achievement comes during an already big week for Macklemore.

On Monday, he posted on Facebook that he'd proposed to his girlfriend of seven years and that she accepted.

"We are both so overwhelmed with the love that you've shown us, and appreciate everyone that has come into our lives these past years," he wrote. "From the front rows of shows, to the merch table to even just comments online. It's been an emotional day and I got tears in my eyes just writing this. You guys already know. Thank you. I could never say it enough."

Through early Thursday, more than 124,400 people liked it and nearly 5,000 people had left congratulatory messages.

Wednesday afternoon, Macklemore posted another update that quickly gained more than 20,000 likes.

"Never thought I'd be able to say this but..... we have the number 1 song in the country right now."